Inhaler



(No Mof-lfa-l.)

J. BERKBY.

INHALER.

No. 368,991. f Patented Aug. 30, 1887.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OrrrcE.

.IULIUS BERKEY, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

INHALER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 368,991, dated August 30,1887.

Application tiled February 11, 1887. Serial No. @1352. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.:

Beit known that I, JULIUs BERKEY, acitizen of the United States, residing at the city of Grand Rapids, county of Kent, and State of Michigan, have invented acertain new and useful Inhaler, of which the following is a specication. Y

My invention relates to the class of inhalers adapted to be carried about with the person using them, so as to be at alll times ready for use; and its object is to produce such an inhaler and in such a form that it can be quickly and easily opened and closed. This object I accomplish by means of the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which-` Figure 1 is a side elevation of an inhaler constructed in accordance with my invention, having a portion of the outer shell cut away for the purpose of showing the position of the saturated material within the outer case. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view ofthe same, with the inner slide in position to open the inhaler,so as to allow the air to pass through it. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of my inhalers attached to a handkerchief, and Fig.

4 is a vertical sectional view showing the innerrslide in position to close theinhaler.

Si milar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

A is the outer shell, which is of any suitable material, and preferably cylindrical in form. The ends of the shell are closed by heads C C. AThese I have shown attached by a screw-thread to the inside of the shell A; but

Vthe method of attachment may be varied, the

B B is a slide considerably smaller than the shell A, but of similar form and also somewhat longerthan the shell. It passes throughthe shell and both heads, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, and projects at one or both ends. rIhe openings in the heads are just large enough to permit the slide to pass through with a close working t, and when in position the slide thus has a longitudinal motion,while the shell A remains substantially air-tight. The central portion of the slide-that shown in the drawings by the closely-ruled parallel lines- D D are small round holes or other suitable openings, of which there may be one or more, into the hollow closed end of theslide near the end. E E are similar openings from the chamber K K into the same hollow end, but near to the central solid portion, as shown and F F similar openings into the other hollow end.

The operation of my invention is as follows: One of the heads O is removed and the chamber K K filled with the material to be inhaled. This, if a salt or similar substance, is placed in the chamber loosely and in any quantity desired. If a liquid, a sponge or other absorbent material saturated with the liquid is made to occupy the whole or aportion of the cavityK K. After the absorbent material has been used for a time and needs to be again saturated, the slide may be placed in the position shown in Fig. 2,`and the concave end of the head C, in combination with the openA end of the slide, forms a funnel into which the liquid can be poured and the absorbent material again saturated without removing the head @,while the position of the openings E E is such that between them and the inner side of the nearest head O there will be formed a chamber whichwill catch the drip and prevent au overflow through the openings D D,if a trifle too much liquid is poured in. The slide being placed in the position shown in Fig. 4, the openings D D and F F are tightly closed, and the inhalent material, usually of a very volatile na` ture, is completely protected from accidental escape and from evaporation. sired to use the inhaler,the slide is pressed to the position shown in Fig. 2 and the open end applied to the nostril. As the air is then inhaled,it will necessarily first pass through D D into the slide out through E E into the chamber K K, there becoming charged with the inhalent, and then through F F into the slide again,and thence to the nostril. The project- When it is dev IOC) ing of the slide beyond the shell enables it to be applied to the face so closely that no air can be breathed except that which has passed through the inhalent material. The slide being longer than the shell A it is opened or closed instantly by a slight pressure.

In Fig. 3 I have shown the inhaler attached to a handkerchief, G. For this purpose I take a short elastic band, H, and clasp it upon the inhaler by the clasp I, the other end of which clasp is fastened to the handkerchief. This method of use enables the inhaler to be carried about practically concealed from sigh t, and yet ready for use at any time, an object of special utility when it is used to contain perfumery or those pungent salts commonly known as smelling salts. By blowing through the inhaler when thus in use the handkerchief may be charged with vapor of the perfume to any extent desired.

By the use of two such clasps as shown in Fig. 3, the other attached to the band H at a point opposite to the point of attachment there shown, and a suitable band passing around the head and connecting the two clasps, the inhaler can be held close tothe face in position for constant and involuntary use, as during sleep. This arrangement I consider as especially valuable when the inhaler is to be used for medical purposes in catarrhal and similar diseases; but I have not shown it in the drawings, as it is easily understood.

I do not Wish to limit myself to the number, form, or specific position of the openingsl) D, E E, and F F, nor to the shape of the outer shell or of the' inner slide; but,

Having thus described my invention, what I claim to have invented, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

An inhaler consisting of two shells,the outer having in its ends openings permitting the inner to be moved therein, and the inner shell having an opening from the outer air through one end thereof into the corresponding end of the chamber between the two shells, and a similar opening through the other end thereof from that end of said chamber to the outer air, such openings making a passage for a current of air, and adapted to close the en rrent by changing the position of the inner shell, sub-' 5o stantially as described.

JULIUS BERKEY.

Witnesses:

O. B. WILMARTII, ARTHUR C. DENIsoN. 

